Gunnison Valley Health Achieves Outstanding Results in 2024 CDC mPINC Survey

Gunnison Valley Health is proud to announce its exceptional performance in the 2024 Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This national survey evaluates maternity care practices including feeding practices and breastfeeding support across hospitals, and Gunnison Valley Health achieved a remarkable total score of 96, significantly outperforming national (82), regional (79) and similar-sized hospital averages (77).

This achievement further reinforces Gunnison Valley Health's dedication to excellence in maternal and infant care, highlighted by our 2023 Baby-Friendly Designation from Baby-Friendly USA. This esteemed recognition affirms our commitment to the highest standards of care for mothers and their infants, guided by the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. Performance in the mPINC survey is a critical component of the evaluation process for maintaining Gunnison Valley Health’s Baby-Friendly designation.

“Our outstanding mPINC results and Baby-Friendly Designation underscore our dedication to providing care that meets and exceeds global best practices,” said Jason Amrich, CEO of Gunnison Valley Health. “I commend our Family Birth Center team for their unwavering commitment to empowering families and supporting the health of our community.”

The mPINC survey evaluates six critical areas of maternity care, and Gunnison Valley Health excelled in all categories:

1. Immediate Postpartum Care: Encouraging uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact and early breastfeeding initiation.
2. Rooming-In: Minimizing mother-baby separation to promote bonding, breastfeeding and feeding opportunities.
3. Feeding Practices: Ensuring mothers feel empowered and educated in order to feed their baby.
4. Feeding Education: Equipping parents with knowledge about feeding cues, milk sufficiency and safe formula preparation.
5. Discharge Support: Offering comprehensive lactation and feeding support, follow-up care and resources post-discharge.
6. Institutional Management: Providing staff training pertinent to infant feeding and healthy bonding for mothers and babies.

“Our hospital experience plays a pivotal role in a mother’s confidence in her ability to care for her infant,” said Kelsey Weaver, Maternal Child Coordinator. “These results reflect our dedication to ensuring that every mother and baby, regardless of feeding choice, receives the highest level of care and support.”

Gunnison Valley Health’s continued focus on quality improvement ensures that families in the Gunnison Valley have access to world-class maternity care.

For more information about our maternity services or Baby-Friendly practices, please visit www.gunnisonvalleyhealth.org/familybirthcenter.